Early Years, Westward Expansion, and Regional Differences

George Washington became the first president of the United States on April 30, 1789. He had been in charge of the army. As president, his job was to create a working government.
 With Congress, he created the Treasury, Justice, and War departments. Together, the leaders of these departments and the others that were founded in later years are called the cabinet.

George Washington served two four-year terms as president before leaving office but  the next two presidents—John Adams and Thomas Jefferson —had different ideas about the role of government. This led to the creation of political parties.
For about 20 years, the United States was friendly to other countries and neutral toward their disputes, but France and Britain again were at war. After years of unsuccessful diplomacy, the United States went to war with Britain in 1812. The battles took place mostly in the Northeastern states and along the East Coast.

The Americans won important battles on land and sea. Weakened and in debt from its recent war with France, Britain signed a peace treaty with the U.S. in 1815. The U.S. victory made sure that Britain wouldn’t establish colonies south of the Canadian border.

An important addition to foreign policy was the Monroe Doctrine. President James Monroe’s announcement of solidarity with newly independent nations in Central and South America was a warning to Europe not to seek colonies in Latin America.